EPA Region 10 - Pollution Prevention, Waste Minimization and

Pollution Prevention, Waste Minimization and PBT Chemical Reduction


	Region 10: The Pacific Northwest

Serving the people of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and 270 Native Tribes

First Time Visitors
Index A - Z

Air Quality
Superfund
Waste and Chemicals
Water Quality

Innovative Solutions
Business & Industry
Concerned Citizens

Pollution Prevention, Waste Minimization and
PBT Chemical Reduction

graphic showing that source reduction, recycling, treatment and disposal reduce wastes from the past to the present.

Pollution Prevention (P2)	Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT) Chemicals
Waste Minimization	Regional PBT Initiatives
Recycling and Product Stewardship (aka Extended Product Responsibility)	Regional PBT Reports

The Office of Waste and Chemicals Management supports the philosophy that the best way to

prevent pollution

is to move up the waste management hierarchy towards source reduction. Source reduction means reducing or eliminating the creation of wastes at the source. This can be accomplished through changes in materials, practices, processes, or design. EPA Headquarters funds several initiatives that provide pollution prevention technical assistance to businesses and the general public. For more information about these initiatives click

HERE.

When wastes cannot be prevented, through source reduction, typically the next best option is

recycling

"Waste Minimization"

, which combines the top two steps of the hierarchy, is defined as reducing waste at its source -- before it is even generated (called source reduction) and environmentally sound recycling. EPA worked with representatives from numerous stakeholder organizations to develop the Waste Minimization National Plan (WMNP), which focuses on reducing the generation and subsequent release to the environment of the most

persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) chemicals

in hazardous wastes. The EPA Office of Solid Waste is putting special emphasis on source reduction of PBT chemicals since they readily cross media boundaries and are often difficult to

treat and dispose

Regional PBT Initiatives

EPA has helped develop and implement new initiatives and programs that aid businesses, states, local governments, and tribes in implementing effective pollution prevention and source reduction programs. Each year, EPA Headquarters provides grant funding to a limited number of proposals based on an open, competitive process. Listed below are some of the Region 10 area grant proposals that have successfully received funding for PBT chemical reduction or study:

Alaska Traditional Knowledge and Native Foods Project - 1999
Reducing Emissions from Cereal Grain Burning - 2000 (.pdf document)
Community Exposure to B(a)P and other PBTs from Agricultural Burning - 2000 (.pdf document)

Regional PBT Reports

Under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), EPA is required to set environmental goals and continually measure progress towards achieving these goals. As stipulated by GPRA Subobjective 4a, EPA must: "By 2005, reduce the most persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals in our nation’s hazardous waste streams by 50% as compared with a baseline year of 1991" The reports listed below show ongoing Region 10 progress in meeting this goal.
5/01 - Region 10: Inventory of Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) Chemicals Reported to the Toxic Release Inventory 1991-1998 (.pdf document)
8/00 - Region 10: Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) Chemicals at High Priority Corrective Action and Permitting Universe Facilities - Draft (.pdf document)
10/99 - US EPA Region 10 PBT Chemical Summary Report - Toxic Release Inventory Trends 1991-1997 (.pdf document)
Some of the documents above are in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format.
You can get a FREE copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader by clicking here:

Unit: Solid Waste & Toxics Unit
Jeff Hunt
E-Mail: hunt.jeff@epa.gov
(206) 553-0256
Phone Number: (206) 553-0256
Last Updated (mm/dd/yy): 04/30/2003

Prevention
http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/OWCM.NSF/prevent/prvntrec